Kadugannawa

Since 2014 it is the location of the national railway museum.

Kadugannawa Pass is a pierced rock in the Kadugannawa climb on the Kandy-Colombo road. In 1820s when British built the Kandy-Colombo road they pierced a rock at the Kadugannawa Pass instead of blasting it away or simply baypassing it, as the new road does today. An explanation is, that this Kadugannawa tunnel was a symbol. The tunnel is said to have been created to fulfill an old Sinhalese prophecy that there is no way to foreigners to rule Kandy, unless they pierce the mountains. The British were the first foreign power to occupy Kandy permanently. Thus, the British went out of their way to include a tunnel on the road. Regrettably, this nice story is disputed, as the Kurunegala tunnel is claimed to have been constructed earlier (in 1823) to fulfill the prophetic saying.[2]

Under the direction of William Francis Dawson the first modern highway Colombo - Kandy Road was built in 1820 and William Francis Dawson died before the completion of the project. For the memory of William Francis Dawson the Dawson Tower was built in Kadugannawa.

Kadugannawa Ambalama (Sinhala:කඩුගන්නාව අම්බලම) is a historic wayside rest that is found – on the left, when traveling from Colombo to Kandy,[2] a few metres before the Kadugannawa Hairpin turn aka Kadugannawa pass. Built during the early 18th century which is about 200 years old now. This ambalama was built during the English colonial rule of Ceylon.

• Kadugannawa Pass
• Kadugannawa Ambalama
• Dawson Tower
• National railway museum, Kadugannawa

• Dawson Tower